A KC-135 tanker and 15 airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, Britain, joined military units from 10 other nations yesterday in Lulea, Sweden, for Loyal Arrow 2009, a 10-day exercise hosted by the Swedish air force’s Norrbotten Wing. The Mildenhall tanker is the only aerial refueling platform participating; it is equipped to refuel aircraft that use hose and drogue systems in addition to those that have boom receptacles. “Before we got here, there was some question whether or not we’d be able to support the mission, and half the people in NATO were holding their breath waiting to see what the status of the tanker was,” said Maj. Steve Fisher of Mildenhall’s 100th Operations Support Squadron. US Air Forces in Europe also sent F-15Es from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, and barrier maintenance crews from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Loyal Arrow, which is a live-fire event as well as an integration exercise for the NATO Response Force. (Lulea report by SSgt. Austin May)
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.